Grab winch



March 24, 1925. j 7 1,530,646 w v w. D. BURTON GRAB WINCH Filed Sept/1L 24 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN 0R Mrrcnll urloz:

H mm A TTORNE March 24, 1925.

' w. D. BURTON GRAB wmcn Fil ed Sept, 11. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES WARREN D. BURTON, F EVANS'DON, ILLINOIS.

GRAB WINCH.

Application filed. September 11, 1924. Serial No. 737,213.

To all 11,-720m it may concern:

Be it known that I, ruman D. BURTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grab \Vinch-es, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a cable grabbing and pulling device adapted to be used for anchoring and manipulating aircraft, such as large balloons.

The primary object ofthe invention is the provision of a mobile cable pulling device for anchoring large aircraft which may be manipulated to move to a )osition where the anchor rope may be grab d and fed to a cable winch device, by which a pull is exerted on the cable so that the balloon to which the cable is attached may be pulled down and finallyanchored close to the ground.

A further object is the provision of a novel form of grab arms which may be manually operated to grab and move the cable horizontally to a position adjacent the cable winch.

A further object is the-provision of pulling chains and the means for mounting one of these chains so that the pressure exerted by the chains on the cable will increase as the resistance of the cable increases. In a device of this character the space between two adjacent chains is easily variable to ac- ('ommodate different size cables, but when the cable is being pulled downward it will be held firmly due to the inherent arrangement of the moving parts.

A further object is the provision of a guide groove for the cable which will permit the ready release without entanglements,

so that the balloon may be released quickly and the cable freed if it should be desired to entirely free the balloon, as when a sudden gust of wind should make such a procedure necessary.

Further objects will be more fully explained in detail in the attached specification and the claims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the front part of a tractor upon which the grabbing and pulling device is mounted.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1.-

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical view of the arrangement of the mechanism for driving the pulling chains.

Referring more particularly to the drawings by reference numerals, the front part of the tractor, designated generally by the numeral 1, is provided with an operators seat 2, in front of which the grab arms 3 and 4 are mounted. These arms are curved as shown in Fig. 1 and are provided with inwardly extending projections 5 at their ends. Arm 3 is pivoted on a pin 6 and is made integral with a, segmental gear 7 which meshes with the adjoiningsegmental gear 8 rigid with arm 4, the gear 8 and arm 4 being pivoted on the axis 9. These arms are manually operated by hand lever 10 which is rigidly connected to the arm 4. Hand lever 10 is provided with a. handle 11, provided with a suitable release 12 for a lock 13 so that the arms may be readily released from their positions and manually'adjusted to move with a scissors like motion and assume the position shown in dotted lines where the arms are'crossed, it being understood that arm 4 is mounted slightly above the level of arm 3. When the anchoring cable of a balloon is within reach of these enclosing arms the crossing of the arms will feed the cable back centrally to (L-POSltlOII adjacent the pulling chains 14 and 15 where it may be engaged by these chains and pulled downwardly.

The pivots 6 and 9 of the enclosing arms are mounted on the top of a main mechanism case or supporting frame designated particularly by the numeral 16. This mechanism case serves as an enclosure for the pulling chains and the gearing to operate the same.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 2. two bell crank levers 17 and 18 are mounted upon superposed pivots 19 and 20 respectively, which are fixed to and mounted in the supportin frame 16. The levers 17 and 18 are provided with laterally extending parallel arms 21 and 22 respectively, which are interconnected by a link 23, which is made so as to have a substantial weight for counterbalancing purposes as will be more fully later described.

This link is adapted to be manually operated so as to cause simultaneous rocking movements of the two bell crank leversabo-ut their fixed axes. At the opposite ends of the bell crank levers are two parallel arms 24 and 25, which extend in a general downward direction. At the end of arm 24 is a pivot 26 which rotatably supports an dler gear 27 shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4. The lower end of the arm 25 is similarly provided with a pivot 28 which likewise serves as a mount for the driven gear 29. Gears 29 and 27 provide a means for mountlng and driving the chain belt 14.

The driven gear 29 which imparts movement to the chain 14 is driven by drlve gear 30 mounted upon the pivot 20 of the lower bell crank lever, which is fixed in position on the supporting frame as previously mentioned. Rotational movements of the drive gear 30 are imparted by a system of gearing shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4, in which it will be seen that the gear 30 1S driven through an idler 31. A second driven gear 32 is mounted concentric with and fixed to a large gear 33. Gear 33 is driven by means of a small gear 34 mounted concentric with and fixed to large gear 35, WlllCh is driven by the primary drive gear 36, operated by a driven shaft 37 which extends rearwardly and is adapted to be a source of power through suitable clutch mechanism not shown. Shaft 37 is mounted in the main supporting housing by means of friction bearings 38, which are also provided for the mounting shafts of gears 32' to 35 inclusive. Gears 33 and 32 are mounted upon a shaft 39 extending rearwardly in the supporting housing, and shaft 39 serves as a mount for a gear 40, which supports and drives the second pulling chain 15. Chain 15 extends around an upper idler gear 41 mounted upon a shaft 42, which is freely rotatable within the supporting housing by a mounting therein by antifriction bearings. Shafts 42 and 39 are fixed in position in the supporting housing so that the pulling chain 15 is located in a fixed position and is moved by the lower gear- 40, which is power driven as before mentioned.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 4, it will be observed that if the weighted link 23 is moved vertically, the two bell crank levers will be rotated clockwise and the chain 14 as a whole will be moved to the left, thereby separating. it to some extent from the second chain 15, the position of which is fixed. Gears 30 and 29 will always be in mesh'regardless of the position of the bell cranks since gear 30 is pivoted coaxially with the lower bell crank lever. Gear 36 is driven in a counter-clockwise direction at all times when it is clutched to the source of power, and this will cause the drive gear 30 to rotate in a clockwise direction, so that the teeth at the lower part of this gear will exert a force to the right, as shown in Fig. 4, thus driving the driven gear 29 upon which the chain 14 is mounted in a clockwise direction. The pressure exerted by the teeth of the gear 30, in addition to rotating the weighted link 23.

the driven gear 29 below it, will tend to force the entire gear to the right, this force depending upon the resistance encountered by the chain belt 14. The lift of the balloon creates a resistance to the downward movement of the cable when the cable is held between the two pulling chains 14 and 15, which tend to prevent any motion of these chains. A rotational movement of the gear 30 in a counter-clockwise direction will then first operate to force the entire chain 14 to the right by simultaneously rocking of the two bell crank levers. The power applied will then cause rotational movement of the driven gear 29, so as to cause the chain 14 to move in the direction of the arrow and pull down upon the cable. Chain 15 at the same time will be power driven through the gears 33 and 32 so as to cause it to move in synchronism with the chain 14.

The weighted link 23 which interconnects the bell crank levers is provided with a stud 43 to which is pivoted an arm 44. Arm 44 is pivotally connected by a pivot member 45 to an arm 46, the lower end of which is pivoted to a fixed stud 47 mounted in the sup-- porting housing. These two arms 44 and 46 form a toggle which is operated by push rod 48, pivotally connected at 49 to a hand lever 50 which is pivoted at 51 to a lug52, extending rearwardly from the supporting housing 16. When the hand lever 50 is pulled rearwardly, the arms 44 and 46 will be straightened so as .tocause a vertical movement of The weight of the link 23 is designed sothat it will slightly overbalance the weight of the gearing and chain belt mounted on the depending arms of the bell crank levers, when these levers are in a position so that the cable is engaged by the chains 14 and 15. Hand lever 50 may be operated at any time without undue force, so as to instantaneously release the balloon cable from the chains and permit the balloon to withdraw the cable entirely free of the machine.

The balloon cable is guided to the chains 14 and 15 by means ofvertical inclined guide surfaces 53 and 54, which extend to a vertical groove 55, which guides the cable when the same is just being enga ed or is fully engaged with the chain be ts 14 and 15.

The vertical, rearwardly extending surfaces ill chains 14 and 15. In such a case, the knot 01' entanglement will slide upwardly and forwardly along the incline 56 untll the cable is entirely freed from the chain and from the groove.

The pulling chain belts ll and 15 are constructed of a number of individual links 57 which are provided with projections 58 at the center thereof. Dep-ressions. 59 are formed by the shape of the ends of the links. The links are pivoted together by pivots60. The depressions of one of the chains engage and mate up with projections of the correspondingly opposite chain links. The uneven contour given to the chains in this manner will insure a firm grip upon the cable, and prevent any tendency towards slipping, which might otherwise be caused by a smooth belt or chain. The forward ends of the links 57 are provided with an inclined face 61 so that the chains mayreadily grasp the cable after the latter has been moved horizontally, so as to be fed to the outer ends of the links of the chain.

The two channel beams 62 and 63 extend rearwardly and form a part of the frame of the entire tractor unit, upon which the grabbing and pulling mechanismis mounted, and the front ends of these channel beams serve as a support for the entire supporting housing 16, and mount this housing in suitable position upon the front of' the tractor. The tractor is of a type so that it may be quickly manipulated to be moved to a position Where itmay engage the anchor rope of the balloon when a landing is desired to be made. A device of this character will take the place of a great number of men who have hitherto been necessary to apply their weight to the balloon cable in anchoring the balloon. The use of manual labor in anchoring the balloon in the previously known manner is exceedingly dangerous and unsatisfactory. The danger and disadvantage of this method is entirely overcome by the use of the cable grabbing and pulling device, which has just been described as an example of my invention, the scope of which will be more fully set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A mechanical movement comprising a support, a lever pivoted thereon on an axis,

a drive wheel on said axis, a driven wheel pivoted on said lever and engaging with said drive wheel, means cooperating with-said driven wheel to receive an object therebetween, said drive wheel driving the driven Wheel so as to exert a force to press the driven wheel against the said means so that the said force varies as the resistance of the object.

2. A mechanical movement comprising a support, a lever pivoted thereon on an axis, a drive Wheel on said axis, a driven wheel pivoted on said lever and engaging with said drive wheel. means cooperating with said driven wheel to receive an object therebetween, said drive wheel driving the driven Wheel so as to exert a force to press the driven wheel against the said means so that the said force varies as the resistance of the object, and means acting on said lever to exert a force opposed to the first named force.-v

3. A mechanical movement comprising a support, a lever pivoted thereon on an axis, a drive gear on said axis, a driven gear pivoted on said lever and engaging with said drive gear, means cooperating with said driven gear to receive an object therebetween,-means for positively rocking said lever to move the driven gear toward said cooperating means, said drive gear driving the driven gear so as to exert a'force to press the driven gear against the said coope ating means so that the force varies as the resistance of the object, and means acting on said lever to exert a force opposed to said first named force.

4. A mechanical movement comprising, in combination, a support, apair of levers, a. pair of axes for said levers on said support, an interconnection between said levers to maintain portions-of the same in parallelism,

" tating said driven gear so as to exert a force on the belt or chain to press the same against the said means, and means acting on said arms to create a withdrawing force on said belt or chain.

5. A. mechani al movement comprising, in combination. a support, a pair of parallel levers, a pair of axes for said levers mounted on said support, an interconnection between said levers to maintain portions of the same in parallelism, a drive gear mounted on said support on one of said axes, a driven gear on one lever in engagement with said drive gear, an idler gear on the other lever, a belt or chain operated by said last two gears, and means cooperating with saidbelt or chain to receive an object there-between. said drive gear rotating said driven gear so as to exert a force on the belt or chain to press the same against the said means.

6. A mechanical movementcomprising,

in combination, a support, a pair of levers, a pair of axes for sald levers on said support, an interconnection between said levers frpm said first named means.

7. A mechanical movement comprising in combination a support, a pair of parallel levers, a pair of axes for said levers mounted on said support, an interconnection between said levers to maintain portions of the same in parallelism, a drive gear mounted on said support on one of said axes, a driven gear on one lever in engagement with said drive gear, an idler gear on the other lever, a belt or chain operated Joy said last two gears, means cooperating with said belt or chain to receive an object there-between, said drive gear rotating said driven gear so as to exert a force on the belt or chain to press the same against the said means, and means for positively moving said belt or chain away from said first named means.

8. A mechanical movement comprising in combination a support, a pair of levers, a pair of axes for said levers on said support, an interconnection between said levers to maintain portions of the same in parallelism, a drive ear mounted on said support on one of sai axes, a driven gear on one lever in engagement with said drive gear, an idler gear on the other lever, a belt or chain operated by said last two gears, means cooperating with said belt or chain to receive an object there-between, said drive gear rotating said driven gear so as to exert a force on the belt or chain to press the same against the said means, means acting on said arms to create a withdrawing force on said belt or chain, said interconnection providing a gravity actuated means acting on said arms to tendto withdraw the belt or chain away from said first named means, and a toggle for positively moving said interconnection. J

9. The device as set forth in claim 3 together with means for guiding said object to said driven wheel.

10. The device as set forth in claim 4 together with guide means for guiding said object to said belt or chain, said guide means having a tapering groove for the purpose described.

11. In a cable pulling device, in combination, a support, a 'lever pivoted thereon on an axis, a drive wheel on said axis, a driven wheel pivoted on said lever and engaging with said drive wheel, means cooperating with said driven wheel to receive an object there-between, said drive wheel driving the support on one of said axes, a driven gear on one lever in engagement with said drive gear, an idler gear on the other lever, a chain belt operated by said last two gears, means cooperating with said chain belt to receive an object there-between, said drive gear rotating said driven gear so as to exert a force on the chain belt to press the same against the said means, said interconnection providing a gravity actuated means acting 'on said arms to tend to withdraw the belt or chain away from the said first named means, a toggle connecting said support to said levers, and means for positively o crating said toggle to rotate said levers in elthcr direction.

13. A mechanical movement comprising a support, a lever pivoted thereon on an axis, a drive wheel on said axis, a driven, wheel pivoted on said lever and engaging with said drive wheel, a rough chain of uneven contour operated by said wheels, a second chain adjacent said first chain and having an uneven contour with depressions adapted to engage with projecting portions of said first chain, said chains adapted to receive a rope or cable therebetween, said drive wheel driving the driven wheel so as to exert a force to press the driven wheel toward said.

second chain so that said force will vary in accordance with resistanceot the said rope or cable.

14. In a cable pulling device, in combination, a support, a pair of levers, a pair of axes for said levers mounted on said support, an interconnection between said levers to maintain portions of the same in parallelism, a drive gear mounted on said support on one of said axes, a driven gear on one lever in engagement with said drive gear, an idler gear on the other lever, a chain having projections and depressions, said chain extending around said last two gears to be operated thereby, a second chain having depressions and projectionscooperating with said projections and depressions respectively of said first chain so as to receive a cable there-between, said drive gear rotating said driven gear so as to exert a force on the first chain to press the same against said second chain.

15. In a cable pullin device as set forth in claim 14, a system 0 gearing for driving said second chain in synchronism with said first chain. I

16. In a cable pulling device for anchorin aircraft, in combination, a support, a pair of levers mounted on said support on a pair of axes, an interconnection between said levers for causing simultaneous movements of the same, a drive gear mounted on said support on one of said axes, a driven gear (in one lever in engagement with said drive gear, a chain belt operated by said last two gears, a second drive gear, a second idler gear, both mounted on said support, a second chain belt operated by said second gear to cooperate with said first named belt and receive and operate a cable there-between, said first drive gear rotating said first driven gear so as to cause pressure to be exerted between said chain belts.

1 7. A cable pulling device for anchoring aircraft comprising a support, a pair of superposed levers, a'pair of vertically spaced axes for said levers on said support, avertical link between said levers to maintain portions of thesame in parallelism, a drive gear mounted on said support on one of said axes, a drlven gear on one lever in engagefor exerting a downward pull upon an air craft cable, a vertical guide groove to guide the cable downwardly, and a guide arm for receive an aircraft cable, a pair of horizontally movable guide arms mounted above said chains, and means for moving said arms so as to move the cable horizontally to feed it to the said chains.

20. In a cable pulling device for anchoring aircraft, in combination, a power driven chain for exerting a downward pull on an aircraft cable, a vertical guideroove for guiding said cable to said chain,-'t e sides of said groove being cut away at v-the lower portions thereof to provide an inclined groove to prevent the passage of a large knot or tangle in an upper direction, and a pair of .movable curved guide arms adapted to contact with and move said cable so as to feed it to said chain 21. In a cable pulling device for anchoring aircraft, a support, a pair of curved parallel arms pivotally mounted on said support, segmentalgearing interconnecting said arms, for simultaneous movement, and a lever for simultaneously moving said arms to cause the same to close and to feed a rope enclosed thereby in a predetermined direction.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WALRREN D. BURTON. 

